19 Dec 2025

Japan's Sumitomo Realty and Development is deepening its India presence by concentrating investments entirely in Mumbai and prioritising a rental-led serviced apartment strategy over outright home sales. Viewing Mumbai as its second growth engine after Tokyo, the developer is pursuing ground-up construction in prime locations amid land scarcity and rising rents. Unlike peers partnering locally or acquiring ready assets, Sumitomo is backing long-term rental income through managed residential and office assets. With five ongoing projects in Mumbai, including four in Bandra Kurla Complex, the company sees sustained demand, lower construction costs compared with global cities, and stable cash flows to support future expansion.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Elan Group has announced plans to invest around INR 1,600 crore in a new luxury residential project in Gurugram, underlining continued demand for high-end housing in the city. The newly launched project, Elan The Statement, is spread across six acres in Sector 49 and will comprise 230 apartments. The company stated that the investment reflects sustained buyer interest in premium homes in Gurugram over the past few years. Earlier this year, Elan Group had also revealed plans to invest nearly INR 3,000 crore in an ultra-luxury project along the Dwarka Expressway. The developer currently has 15 projects across Gurugram and New Delhi, with a built-up area of about 25 million sq ft.Read more

18 Dec 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority has launched an online registration system for its affordable housing schemes, making it easier for buyers to apply for LIG and EWS flats. The digital process allows applicants to register through the GDA website without visiting offices, improving access and transparency. Buyers can submit details, track applications and receive updates online, reducing paperwork and delays. The move supports wider digitisation efforts and helps authorities monitor allocations more efficiently. With demand for low-cost housing remaining strong, the initiative is expected to benefit first-time buyers and lower-income families by simplifying participation in affordable housing schemes across Ghaziabad.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Karnataka's assembly recently approved 12 important bills covering rent regulations, urban governance, land revenue, development authorities, welfare funds, and institutional amendments. The Karnataka Rent (Amendment) Bill aims to decriminalize minor violations and rationalize fines, reflecting the state's commitment to Minimum Government, Maximum Governance. Changes to the Greater Bengaluru Authority include all MPs and MLAs residing in the city as members, along with senior government officials. The assembly also cleared amendments affecting temples, universities, and regional development boards, strengthening administrative structures and streamlining governance across Karnataka.Read more

18 Dec 2025

Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) recently demolished 350 dwellings near Dashama Pond in Gorwa, acting on a request from the Gujarat Housing Board (GHB). The two-day operation cleared makeshift homes primarily occupied by labourers, who were previously asked to relocate. GHB plans to develop a housing scheme on the reclaimed land but lacked the manpower and machinery to remove encroachments on its own. The demolition aligns with the city's ongoing efforts to reclaim public and reserved land for structured development and addresses issues of unregulated settlements in urban areas.Read more

17 Dec 2025

New Zealand's housing market saw a moderate increase in home prices in November, reflecting steady underlying demand despite a slowdown in sales. Seasonally adjusted median house prices rose 1.2% compared with October and were 2.3% higher than the previous year, according to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). While national home sales declined 4.6% from October and 5.7% compared with last November, market resilience suggests that demand remains stable. Analysts note that price stability reflects the continued appeal of New Zealand's housing market amid a slower sales environment.Read more

17 Dec 2025

Japan is set to expand regulations requiring foreigners to report property purchases to the government, a move aimed at monitoring speculative buying in the residential sector. Currently, reporting obligations apply only to foreign investors. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said the new rules, expected to be implemented in April next year, will cover properties bought for residential use. Authorities are seeking a clearer understanding of the market to prevent cases of speculation. The policy reflects ongoing efforts to balance foreign investment with housing stability in Japan.Read more

17 Dec 2025

The Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority has appointed a civil engineer to strengthen technical oversight and improve transparency in the state's real estate sector. The move aims to ensure that registered projects comply with approved plans, construction standards and delivery timelines. The engineer will review structural designs, monitor construction progress and verify claims made by developers during project registration. This added scrutiny is expected to reduce delays, deviations and quality issues that affect homebuyers. The appointment will also support dispute resolution through technical assessments and site inspections. Odisha RERA said the initiative will enhance consumer protection, improve regulatory enforcement and build greater confidence in the housing market.Read more

17 Dec 2025

Canada's housing market showed signs of cooling as home sales slipped slightly during November, ending the strong mid-year recovery seen earlier. Data released by the Canadian Real Estate Association showed a modest monthly drop in transactions, alongside a decline in prices and fewer new listings. While activity remained well above the lows recorded in spring, sales have largely plateaued over the past few months. The slowdown comes as borrowing costs remain elevated, with the central bank maintaining its key policy rate, prompting buyers and sellers to adopt a more cautious stance.Read more

16 Dec 2025

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has ordered a temporary halt to construction at the Prestige Towers project in Mahalaxmi after identifying violations of mandatory air pollution control norms. Inspections revealed inadequate dust mitigation measures, including insufficient barricading, lack of continuous water sprinkling and absence of required dust suppression systems. The civic body said these lapses could worsen air quality and pose health risks to nearby residents, commuters and on-site workers. The action is part of BMC's intensified monitoring of construction sites across Mumbai, especially during periods of high pollution. Work at the site will remain suspended until all prescribed air quality and environmental safeguards are fully implemented and verified.Read more

16 Dec 2025

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) conducted an online lottery for 426 residential units under the Development Control and Promotion Regulations 2034, with 373 applicants selected and 362 placed on a waiting list. Successful applicants are being notified through email, followed by official letters for document verification. BMC also plans another draw for 296 units across the city. This move reinforces the civic body's efforts to make affordable housing accessible to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) applicants, addressing the long-standing demand for inclusive homes in Mumbai.Read more

16 Dec 2025

Aditya Birla Housing Finance has launched Pragati Home Loan to expand access to affordable housing finance for low- and middle-income borrowers across India. The product is designed for salaried and self-employed customers, including those with informal income or limited documentation. Pragati Home Loan supports multiple housing needs such as home purchases, construction, resale, extensions and improvements. With loan tenures of up to 30 years and financing of up to 90 per cent of property value, the offering aims to reduce upfront and monthly repayment pressures. Digital onboarding, transparent tracking and doorstep assistance further simplify the loan process, reinforcing the company's focus on financial inclusion and first-time homebuyers.Read more

16 Dec 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority has approved 16 new real estate projects across nine districts, involving a total investment of about INR 3,200 crore. Lucknow led the approvals with six projects worth over INR 2,150 crore, covering residential, commercial and mixed-use developments and adding more than 1,400 units. Other cities including Agra, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Bareilly, Jhansi and Mathura-Vrindavan also received clearances, largely in the residential segment. The approvals reflect steady momentum in regulated real estate development across the state. The projects are expected to boost housing supply, support urban infrastructure growth and generate employment across construction and allied sectors.Read more

16 Dec 2025

Coldwell Banker India has appointed Bengaluru-based Value Add Realty as its area developer for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa, expanding a partnership that has been in place for more than a decade. The appointment gives Value Add Realty, represented by partner Balaji Badrinath, a wider role in overseeing franchise growth, training and operational standards across South India. The move follows the firm's contribution to building Coldwell Banker's presence in Bengaluru and comes as the network prepares to add new franchise partners, including Archstone Ventures in Devanahalli.Read more